Max donors (so far) to Rebecca Cooke, Democrat of western Wisconsin

A famous musician, the former CEO of the Green Bay Packers and members of the Soros, Pritzer and Walton families have all given the challenger the maximum allowed by federal law.

By Gus Pirlot and Peter Cameron, THE BADGER PROJECT

The 3rd Congressional District in western Wisconsin, which stretches from Platteville through La Crosse and includes Eau Claire and Stevens Point, is one of the most competitive in the state, and major cash is flowing in from both sides to try and win it.

A Democrat held the U.S. House district for nearly three decades until he retired and the current holder, Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden, won the seat in 2022. Democratic challenger Rebecca Cooke narrowly lost to Van Orden in 2024, and hopes to knock him off in this year’s rematch.

The most an individual can donate to a candidate for federal office in the 2026 cycle is $7,000 – $3,500 each for the primary and the general – and max donations are pouring into both campaigns from in-state and out.

Van Orden reported raising more than $7.5 million at the July 22 deadline. Cooke reported raising more than $8.6 million in the same timeframe.

Below is a list of people who have given Cooke the max donation (so far) in this election cycle.

NAME	CITY	NOTES
ABDEY, JULIAN	HILLSBOROUGH, CA	Equity portfolio manager at Capital Group, longtime manager on the Growth Fund of America
BAINUM, BARBARA	CHEVY CHASE, MD	Not employed
BAIR, TED H.	STOCKHOLM, WI	Not employed
BEKENSTEIN, ANITA	BOSTON, MA	Wife of Josh Bekenstein
BEKENSTEIN, JOSH	BOSTON, MA	Co-chairman of Bain Capital, a private investment firm
BENDICH, JUDITH	SEATTLE, WA	Attorney and on the ACLU’s board of directors
BERNSTEIN, JOHN	GUILFORD, VT	Heir to Daniel J. Bernstein, businessman
BERNSTEIN, NATALIE	ATLANTA, GA	Not employed
BILLS, MICHAEL	CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA	CIO of Bluestem Asset Management, a hedge fund manager
BLUMENSTEIN, RICHARD	BINGHAM FARMS, MI	President of Dover Development Corp, a Michigan real estate development firm
BOYERS, MICHELLE	WOODSIDE, CA	Wife of Bradley Gerstner, founder, chairman and CEO of Altimeter Capital, an investment firm
BOYNTON, JOHANNA	CONCORD, MA	Wife of investor John Boynton; involved with BTM Partners, which has owned teams in the Professional Women’s Hockey League
BOYNTON, JOHN W.	CONCORD, MA	Founder of Firehouse Capital, an investment company; former chairman of Yandex (Russia’s largest search engine) and CompTek International (major Russian telecommunications company)
BRUNDAGE, MILES	SAN FRANCISCO, CA	Former OpenAI policy lead; founder and executive director of AVERI, a nonprofit pushing for independent third-party AI safety audits
BURNSTEIN, CLIFF	NEW YORK, NY	Co-founder of Q Prime, a music management company
CARROLL, JASON	NEW YORK, NY	Co-founder and managing partner of Hudson River Trading, a high-frequency trading firm
CLIFFORD, ROBERT A.	CHICAGO, IL	Founder of Clifford Law Offices, a Chicago personal injury and aviation litigation firm
COHEN, JANET	NEW YORK, NY	Artist and wife of William Cohen, Secretary of Defense under Clinton
CONWAY, BRIAN	BOSTON, MA	Senior advisor at TA Associates, a major private equity firm
CONWAY, KAREN	BOSTON, MA	Not employed
CORMICLE, BRUCE	LOS ANGELES, CA	Attorny and legal consultant for TV
CRNKOVIC, CEDOMIR	MILWAUKEE, WI	Former managing director of D.E. Shaw & Co, an investment management firm
CUNZ, KATHLEEN	MAUSTON, WI	Not employed
CUNZ, MARSH	MAUSTON, WI	Not employed
DEGEL, JAMES	VASHON, WA	Owner of Law Offices of James Degel, Inc., P.S.
DEVERAUX, MARJORIE	MADISON, WI	Fine artist
DOW, ABIGAIL	NEW YORK, NY	Heir to Charles Schusterman, founder of the Samson Investment Company, a privately owned oil and gas company, and to Lynn Schusterman, a Rothschild heir
DOW, RACHEL	NEW YORK, NY	Heir to Charles Schusterman, founder of the Samson Investment Company, a privately owned oil and gas company, and to Lynn Schusterman, a Rothschild heir
DYNER, LORRI ELDER	HILLSBOROUGH, CA	Owner of Lorri Dyner Design, a Bay Area interior design company
EISENSON, BARBARA	BOSTON, MA	Wife of Michael Eisenson
EISENSON, MICHAEL	BOSTON, MA	Managing director and co-chairman of Charlesbank Capital Partners LLC
ELECT DEMOCRATIC WOMEN	WASHINGTON, DC
ENGLISH, STEPHEN	PASADENA, CA	Not employed
ESCOBAR, MARTHA	NEW YORK, NY	Not employed
EVANS, ROBERT S.	WOODBRIDGE, NJ	Operations supervisor for New Jersey Transit
EVANS, SUSAN	WEST SALEM, WI	Retired
FISHMAN, EDWARD	WASSAIC, NY	Managing director of D.E. Shaw & Co., LP, a multinational investment management firm
FISKIN, JUDY	LOS ANGELES, CA	Los Angeles photographer and video artist; CalArts art faculty
FORTWENDEL, RYAN	NEW YORK, NY	Former executive of e-commerce for Marc Jacobs
FOSTER, MARC	BROOKLINE, MA	President of Geodesic Bioventures, a biotech venture consulting firm
FOUST, JEANNE	EAU CLAIRE, WI	Retired Global Manager Standards & Operability at Esri, a software development company. Also wife of the late Brady Foust, a professor at UW-Eau Claire
FOWLER, AMY GOLDMAN	RHINEBECK, NY	Real estate heiress (Sol Goldman Investments/Solil Management)
FOWLER, MORGAN C.	RHINEBECK, NY	Not employed
FRANCIS, PETER	MARION, MA	Not employed
FREDELL, JOHN E.	MINNEAPOLIS, MN	Retired doctor
FREED, CLAYT	ITHACA, NY	Political consultant
GABBERT, MARTHA	MINNEAPOLIS, MN	Not employed
GABRIELI, CHRIS	BOSTON, MA	Chairman of the Board of the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education and part-time Lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education
GALKOWSKI, DAVID	BROOKLYN, NY	CEO of Sebana, a renewable energy company
GATES, MELINDA FRENCH	REDMOND, WA	Co-founder of the Gates Foundation and founder of Pivotal Ventures; ex-wife of Bill Gates
GERSTEIN, ED	BROOKLYN, NY	Not employed
GOODING, EUGERNE O.	PISMO BEACH, CA	Retired
GURAL, JEFFREY	NEW YORK, NY	Chairman of GFP Real Estate, a property investment company
HALL, DAVID	MADISON, WI	Not employed
HALMSTAD, ‘ZACH’ RICHARD	EAU CLAIRE, WI	Founder and former CEO of JAMF Software, a software developer
HANEY, WILLIAM	WAYLAND, MA	Co-founder and CEO of Dragonfly Therapeutics and Skyhawk Therapeutics, biotech entrepreneur; also a documentary filmmaker
HARRIS, WILLIAM SR	LEXINGTON, MA	Orthopaedic surgeon, founder and Director Emeritus of the Massachusetts General Hospital Harris Orthopaedics Laboratory
HASELOW, JUSTINE P	EDINA, MN	Wife of Robert Haselow
HASELOW, ROBERT E	EDINA, MN	Radiologist
HEBEISEN, KEITH	CHICAGO, IL	Partner at Clifford Law Offices (Chicago), a medical malpractice and personal injury attorney
HELM, NELSON	LOUISVILLE, KY	Retired
HELM, SUSAN	LOUISVILLE, KY	Retired
JANEWAY, WESLIE	NEW YORK, NY	Wife of venture capitalist/economist William Janeway; serves on the New York Genome Center board
JANEWAY, WILLIAM	NEW YORK, NY	Venture capitalist and economist; Special Limited Partner at Warburg Pincus, helped build its tech investment practice (BEA Systems, VERITAS Software)
JANOWITZ, JESSIE	WASSAIC, NY	Children’s author
KATZ, JANE	MISSOULA, MT	Retired
KATZ, LAURA	NEW YORK, NY	Founder and CEO of Helaina, a biotech company engineering breast-milk proteins for infant formula
KATZ, LINDA MARKS	NEW YORK, NY	Social worker
KATZ, MARC	MISSOULA, MT	Retired
KATZ, RICHARD	NEW YORK, NY	Self-employed journalist
KELLNER, PETER	NANTUCKET, MA	Not employed
KELLY, JAMES	BEND, OR	Not employed
KERN, DEBORAH	FOX POINT, WI	Former owner of Mod Gen, a home and garden goods store
KIANI, JOE	IRVINE, CA	Founder of Masimo, a medical technology company, and Willow Laboratories, a diabetes/health-tech company
KING, MICHAEL PATRICK	LOS ANGELES, CA	Director and writer of Sex and the City
KLARMAN, SETH	BOSTON, MA	Founder and CEO of The Baupost Group, one of the world’s largest hedge funds
KNIGHT, ERIC	SANDS POINT, NY	Senior financial broker at Jane Street Capital, a quantitative investment firm
LAUFER, ERIC	NEW YORK, NY	Investor and film producer
LAWRENCE, DEE	KENTFIELD, CA	Co-founder of Cool Effect and High Tide Foundation, climate-focused nonprofits, with husband Richard Lawrence
LAWRENCE, RICHARD	KENTFIELD, CA	Founder and executive chairman of Overlook Investments Group (Asia-focused fund manager); co-founded Cool Effect and High Tide Foundation, climate nonprofits
LAWSON, ELISE	MADISON, WI	Surgeon
LEDLEY, CHARLES	BOSTON, MA	Early member of Cornwall Capital, an investment firm that shorted the subprime mortgage crisis market
LESKO, ROBERT	SEATTLE, WA	Not employed
LINDSAY, ELLYN	LOS ANGELES, CA	Not employed
LIPSETT, JAKE	ROUND POND, ME	Partner of Mothership Strategies, a political fundraising firm
LOVE, MARCENA W.	WINNETKA, IL	Activist, former president, vice president, board member, and interim executive director of Planned Parenthood, Chicago Area
LUBAR, DAVID	MILWAUKEE, WI	President and CEO of Lubar & Co., son of Sheldon and Marianne
LUBAR, MADELEINE	MILWAUKEE, WI	Nonprofit leader, wife of David Lubar
LUBAR, MARIANNE	RIVER HILLS, WI	An heir of Bell Laboratories, a pest control company, now owned by Berkshire Hathaway
LUBAR, SHELDON	RIVER HILLS, WI	Founder and Chairman of Lubar & Co., a private investment firm
LUBAR, SUSAN	MEQUON, WI	Nonprofit leader, daughter of Sheldon and Marianne
MACEY, SHARON	WILTON, CT	Podcaster
MAROHL, JEREMY	WAUSAU, WI	Owner of The King Company, a Wausau-based trailer dealership
MATTHEWS, DAVE	CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA	Founding member of the Dave Matthews Band
MCCLAVE, JAMES	NEW YORK, NY	Financial broker at Jane Street Capital, a quantitative investment firm
MCKIBBEN, CRAIG	SEATTLE, WA	Retired
MCNALLY, STEPHEN	AUSTIN, TX	Lawyer
MENSCH, PETER	NEW YORK, NY	Co-founder of Q Prime, a music management company
MERNER, SARAH	SEATTLE, WA	Retired
MILBURN, ROB M	CHICAGO, IL	Sound designer
MILLIKEN, NANCY	SAN FRANCISCO, CA	Retired physician
MINSKY, YARON	NEW YORK, NY	Co-head of technology at Jane Stret Capital, a quantitative investment firm
MORRISSEY, MEGHAN	CAPITOLA, CA	Not employed
MOYLE, SABRINA	HILLSBOROUGH, CA	Co-founder and CEO of Hello!Lucky, a letterpress greeting card and children’s book studio
MUNGER, MOLLY	PASADENA, CA	Not employed
MURPHY, LAURIE	DE PERE, WI	Wife of Mark Murphy and owner of Lauren Leroy Homes LLC, a real estate company
MURPHY, MARK	DE PERE, WI	Retired president and CEO of the Green Bay Packers
NIERENBERG, DAVID	CAMAS, WA	Founder and President of Nierenberg Investment Management Company
NIERENBERG, PATRICIA	CAMAS, WA	Wife of David Nierenberg
NOVOGRATZ, SUKEY	NEW YORK, NY	Co-chair of Galaxy Gives, the philanthropic foundation she runs with husband Mike Novogratz (Galaxy Digital); author
O’CONNOR, MIKE	ALMA, WI	Retired entrepreneur
O’CONNOR, PATRICK	PASS CHRISTIAN, MS	Not employed
OBERHEIDE, JONATHAN	ANN ARBOR, MI	Co-founder and former CTO of Duo Security, a cybersecurity company acquired by Cisco for $2.35 billion
OHRSTROM, MARK	MIDDLEBURG, VA	CEO of Larkspur Management, a Virginia-based investment office
PECHET, TAVAN	KIRKLAND, WA	Principal of Pechet Advisors, advising ultra-high-net-worth families on wealth governance and trusts; Harvard Law grad, former federal law clerk
PEELER, DAVID	CAMBRIDGE, MA	Senior advisor at Berkshire Partners, LLC
PETRY, JOHN	NEW YORK, NY	Founder of hedge fund Sessa Capital; co-founder of the Value Investors Club; active in education-reform philanthropy
POWERS, JOHN	BOULDER, CO	Rancher and philanthropist, former real estate broker
PRIMUS, LISA	NEW YORK, NY	Physician
PRITZKER, RACHEL	BERKELEY, CA	Heiress of the Pritzker family fortune
PROCTOR, DAVID	NEW YORK, NY	Retired
PROCTOR, NAOMI	SCARSDALE, NY	Retired
RANDALL, GIOVANA	NEW YORK, NY	Founder, president, and head designer of HONOR NYC, a luxury womenswear/bridal brand
RESNICK, LYNDA RAE	LOS ANGELES, CA	Vice chair and co-owner of The Wonderful Company (POM Wonderful, FIJI Water, Teleflora) with husband Stewart Resnick
ROBINSON, LINCOLN	RENO, NV	Not employed
ROGERS, JOEL	MADISON, WI	Professor of sociology at UW-Madison
ROSENBLUM, PETER	NEW YORK, NY	Founder and managing member of 140 Summer Partners, a New York hedge fund
ROTHMAN, JESSICA	LOS ANGELES, CA	Not employed
RUEDEBUSCH, CARL	MADISON, WI	President and CEO of Ruedebusch Development & Construction
SAGAN, ANN	CAMBRIDGE, MA	Not employed
SAGAN, PAUL	CAMBRIDGE, MA	Former CEO of Akamai Technologies; advisor at General Catalyst venture capital firm; chairman of ProPublica’s board
SALTMAN, JOSHUA	LOS ANGELES, CA	Chief Counsel, Disney Platform Distribution at The Walt Disney Company
SARNAT, JOAN	BERKELEY, CA	Psychologist
SAWTELLE, SCOTT	SAN ANTONIO, TX	Wealth Advisor for Avior Wealth Management, a national wealth management firm
SCHMIDT, WENDY	PALO ALTO, CA	Wife of Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google
SCHROEDER, STEVEN	GLENCOE, IL	Founder and CEO of Creative Werks, a packaging company
SCHUSTERMAN, LYNN	TULSA, OK	Heiress to the Rothschild family fortune, also wife of Charles Schusterman, founder of the Samson Investment Company
SCHUSTERMAN, STACY	TULSA, OK	Daughter of Lynn Schusterman
SIMON, DANIEL	NEW YORK, NY	Not employed
SIMONS, ELIZABETH	ATHERTON, CA	Not employed
SIMONS, NATHANIEL	BERKELEY, CA	Son of the late Jim Simons (Renaissance Technologies); chairman of Meritage Group and major climate philanthropist
SLIFKA, RICHARD	BOSTON, MA	Now deceased, former chair of Global Partners, an energy supply company
SONTHEIM, GWENDOLYN	RANCHO SANTA FE, CA	Heiress to the Cargill fortune, an agricultural services conglomerate
SOROS, JENNIFER ALLAN	NEW YORK, NY	Wife of Jonathan Soros; co-runs the couple’s philanthropy
SOROS, JONATHAN	NEW YORK, NY	Son of George Soros; founder and CEO of JS Capital Management, a prominent progressive political donor
SPENCER, THEODORE	NEW YORK, NY	Environmental policy consultant
SPOONER, SARA	NEW YORK, NY	Wife of Edward Stroz
STEGMAN, DEBORAH	OAKLAND, CA	Retired
STOLTE, CHRIS	SEATTLE, WA	Not employed
STROZ, EDWARD	NEW YORK, NY	Former FBI special agent, now cybersecurity consultant
STULTZ, JOANNE	NORTHAMPTON, MA	Retired
STULTZ, RICHARD	NORTHAMPTON, MA	Retired
STUTZMAN, MARK	PARK CITY, UT	Former Executive Director and CEO of Terra Millennium Corporation, a construction company.
STUTZMAN, SUSAN	OAKLAND, CA	Wife of Mark Stutzman
TIMKEN, HEIDI	WALNUT CREEK, CA	Founding partner of Timken Johnson LLP, a real estate law firm.
TIMKEN, JUDITH	LAFAYETTE, CA	Retired
TULLMAN, GLEN	CHICAGO, IL	CEO of Transcarent and founder of Livongo Health, a digital chronic-care company; former CEO of Allscripts
UIHLEIN, LYNDE B	MILWAUKEE, WI	Heiress to the Schlitz brewing fortune
UPSON, LINUS	WOODSIDE, CA	VP of Engineering and Head of Debug for Google
VAN HOOSER, TERESA	TIBURON, CA	Not employed
VOGELZANG, JAMES	SANTA BARBARA, CA	Author and president of Doing HIS Time Prison Ministry, a Christian prison missionary nonprofit
WADSWORTH, JACK	SAN FRANCISCO, CA	Advisory Director of Morgan Stanley
WALKER, TOM	BLACK RIVER FALLS, WI	Retired doctor
WALLER, TOM M.	WAUTOMA, WI	Not employed
WALTON, SAM	CARBONDALE, CO	Grandchild of Walmart founder Sam Walton
WEIL, SAGE	MADISON, WI	Computer scientist, CEO of Civic Media, Inc., a media company
WELCH, TERESA	CORVALLIS, OR	Not employed
WIENER, JON	LOS ANGELES, CA	Professor of History at University of California, Irvine
WINKEL, ADAM	NEW YORK, NY	Technology manager at Jane Street Capital, a quantitative investment firm
WOLESKE, JOSEPH E.	MADISON, WI	President of Woleske Construction Company, a Wisconsin-based construction company
WOOD, JORDAN	ROUND POND, ME	Democratic candidate for U.S. House, Maine’s 2nd district
WUDI, JASON	EAU CLAIRE, WI	Chief Innovation Officer of Jamf, a software developer
WYNIA, ANN	SAINT PAUL, MN	Former Minnesota state representative